A month ahead I’ll cross the ocean to live abroad for a longer period of time than I’ve ever done. It’s not uncommon these days – at least not if you’re middleclass, have an education and come from one of the more (economically) privileged parts of the world. I feel very privileged to get the chance to get to know another country – of my own choice and by free will – on an everyday basis. I’m in equal parts scared and thrilled. One of the things I will do during my stay is to keep a travel blog. What I haven’t been able to decide is whether to create a separate blog for my US adventure, or if I should integrate the travel blogging into the current and well established lady dandelion blog. I therefore thought you could help me with this and in return I’ll draw one happy winner who wins a parcel with notebooks, postcards and ink – as you see below. To participate in the drawing please answer the poll below and leave a comment to this post where you tell 1. what you’d prefer and why, and 2. if you would be interested in reading my travel blog. I’d also be grateful and happy for all kinds of input and feedback.

One blog I think. I am used to reading your blog over a long period and it covers your travels (locally) already.
I am interested to hear what you will be doing in the US – I do not know much about you such as age etc.and wonder if you will be studying, working or just visiting?

Giveaway now closed. I’m impressed and grateful for getting such ambitious comments. Thank you for taking the time to write them. It’s very helpful. Also thanks to all who have voted in the poll. A winner will be announced tomorrow (Monday)

I would vote for keeping things integrated because it’s not so much particular thematic content that draws me to your blog but the fact that it’s your content: whatever that may be is the draw because your writing and photography of any subject is interesting and engaging. Whatever you choose, though, I’ll surely be checking in. Safe travels!

Dandelion, I’ve enjoyed your blog for quite a long time and I think keeping everything in one place is the way to go. Writing and photography naturally go hand in hand with a travelogue. Keep up the great work and I look forward to following your travels.

Though I usually see your blog because of pens, etc. (I’m from FPN), your traveling sounds interesting. I agree that since you have a well established page, and it’s all YOU, it makes sense to have it all together.

The choice to have everything included in just one blog is a better idea in my opinion since this way it will preclude the angst involved in setting parameters about whether an event may actually belong in one blog or another or indeed even ‘belong’ in the blog at all. ‘Focus’ seems attractive but a travel blog I think is a totally ‘inclusive creature’ which may be denied food with a too sharp perspective. Panoramas are always lovely….

I may be one of the few here, but I separate the blogs that I follow into different categories. Therefore, for me, it would be easier if there was a different “lady dandelion travels” blog so that I remember to check it out. Either way, I will still look it over since I love your blogs in general, but you did ask for our preference, right? :)

Hi! I’m from FPN and think your give-away is awesome – as is your opportunity to live abroad for a time.

I really think that integrating the travels and keeping it all on one blog would be the best way to go. I am a long time blogger and I think that your readership will remain more stable and grow more quickly by having one site for all adventures. I changed my blog to a different name and lost readership (followers). It’s taken a long time to catch up. Hence my suggestion for one blog to cover all. Remain consistent

I too was fortunate to have been able to spend time in Europe and Japan it made a huge difference in my life! Of course now I am longing to return to a few places with “my more mature life” (and I use the term mature loosely!) under my belt. I have so many lists of things I would like to do this time.

Congratulations! Enjoy every moment and I will look forward to reading all about it!
Marie / FPN:zquilts

Integrating it here will be easier concerning upkeep, posts, subscribed readers, as well as the fact that this blog is well established. However… – a separate travel blog will be a nice way for friends and family to follow your US trip and adventures only. Just my 2 cents. :D

I’d prefer that you integrate the travel blog into your existing site, and I’d love to read the travel blog. There are two reasons why I think it should be integrated. First, the more blogs you create the more your readers have to split their attention. It requires more effort (and more feed reader space) to keep up with more blogs. Second, creating a second blog is more work for you. I speak from experience when I say that maintaining blogs grows exponentially harder with every blog you create. It’s too easy to let one fall by the wayside or find yourself stressing about both.

I think it would be better to integrate it because it’ll be easier for both you and your readers too keep up with it. You won’t have to worry about maintaining another blog and we won’t have to worry about book marking another website.

I’m overwhelmed by all thoughtful comments. Thank you so much for great input. :D I’m surprised to see that so many wants to keep the travel/US blog here and that makes it a lot easier to decide. :) Again: Thank you for taking the time!

I think you should integrate the travel blog into this site. It would be easier for you to manage (vs. two separate blogs PLUS flickr, twitter, facebook, etc., which is a whole lot of web stuff to maintain); I think it would be easier for most readers as well (I know I much prefer to just visit one site instead of two or three).

I hope you enjoy your time in the U.S.! It’s a beautiful country with a lot of wonderful things to see and do. I can’t wait to read about your travels!

Intergrating both blogs might be good– maybe easier for you to maintain. I am always looking forward to traveling and adventures for it might motivate me to explore more often! Good luck with everything.

I am on the same situation. I have two separate blog, tumblr, twitter…, Its so difficult to manage all of these. One place like nice cooked soup is much better. Else every part of us stay on a different places waiting for assembling again.

Hi Lady Dandelion! That is truly exciting for you to be able to spend that amount of time in another country. It is a grand adventure. I voted that I am fine with either alternative but think it would be best integrated here. Easier for everyone, eh? (please don’t enter me in the giveaway part; I’ve already been a lucky recipient of a Lady Dandelion giveaway and want someone else to have a chance).

There is only one Lady Dandelion so why not keep it in on the same blog. Would be a shame if this place was empty for a month. I hope to read about you adventure in the U.S. of A. especially about pens and inks that you see and find over there. Also i would love to see some of your lovely pictures of American landscapes and Americana. Hope you have a nice trip. Have fun!!!

I think you should post your travelblog in the same space. I really enjoy reading your blog and especially your handwriting and wish there were more posts to read so a combination of both would be perfect! Its also easier probably for you. I am also really interested in your travel experiences as in about 2 years I will very probably also move somewhere else in the world when I have finished my PHD. Good luck with everything. By the way are you downsizing your pen, ink and paper collection for easier transport over the ocean?

I would keep posting to this site. For the period of time you are abroad, I would guess it will primarily be about your travels, and will become your travel blog. When you return, your ‘regular’ blog will resume. You post a wide variety of topics, including your travel (local) and photography – so I see it as a continuation of what you are already doing.

How long are you gone for? And do we get to hear about where you are headed? (I’m a little behind in my blog reading at the moment.) I’m also curious if you’ve been able to decide on what pens will travel with you, and which journal you’re using….

I would love to read about your travels and see the places you visit through new eyes. It would be easier to have this in one place since your blog is already in my reader, but would add another if you choose that route.

I’m fine with either option, but I think that it would fit for you to post about travelling on this blog. I think that it would still fit fine with the rest of this blog and many people already are subscribed or make it a habit to read your blog here. I’m also looking forward to reading about your travels and the photos you might take.

Since you are not just going on a one week vacation type trip, I vote you use whichever method is easiest for you to keep up your normal posting schedule. There are already enough stressors that go along with adventures; you might as well make it easy on yourself. That way you can keep on posting and we all can keep on reading – it’s a win/win :)

I think that I would enjoy seeing you continue posting in the lady dandelion blog. From a reader’s perspective, your blog site already embodies the essence of who you are, and is not necessarily limited to a pen/ink review blog. You often post your lovely photos of Sweden, as well as photos of your various travels. For me, it wouldn’t seem abrupt or odd or “cut against the grain” of the lady dandelion blog if you began adding posts of your new adventures at all. Whatever you decide, I will be sure to follow and enjoy. I am looking forward to your posts from the U.S., and also hope to have the opportunity to meet you while you are here. :D

I think the decision depends mostly on the relevance you wanted to give to the travelogue and to whether you will be able to update both blogs during those hectic times–if one blog is often too much of a burden, imagine two!

I think I would not make a new blog, not even integrated on this one. Instead, the travelogue would be formed by entries in this Lady Dandelion. Now, label (tag) those clearly so that you could extract all those posts easily. Imagine, too, the dilemma of where to post a text on your pen adventures in the New World. After all, Lady Dandelion also includes reflections and landscapes with little if any reference to pens and inks.

Thanks for your hard work, and all the best for new exciting adventure.

I’d suggest integrating the travel-based postings into this blog, as you are already well established here. I like the idea Speedmaster suggested though too – have a tumblr blog for the travel site, IF you’ll be sharing mostly photos as I feel tumblr is extremely photo based (not always a bad thing), and a lot of times on a travel blog I want to read all about where you’re at, not just see it. Have fun on your trip!!

I would like to see your trip integrated in the current blog because it is still YOU. I’m assuming that you will still be posting your photographs and commenting on your surroundings, right? But no matter what you decide to do, I’ll remain a reader. I can’t wait for you to see my country through your eyes.

A blog with both, would be the best.
As followers we won’t protest
To read not only of your pens,
Your inks, and photographic gems
But also learn about your trip
and see your traveller’s journeyship
take form in observations broad
with incites that we’ll all applaud.

I can imagine your excitement. Good luck to you on your travels and your stay in the US.
As far as blogging goes, you should do what makes you feel the most comfortable, but I would enjoy seeing your experiences included as a part of your regular blog.Whatever you choose to do, I will follow along.

You know, in this case the travel is really a totally integrated part of your life. I mean it’s not just travel, it’s living. So my thought is to just keep it integrated. :) Of course I’d like to read just separate travel bits as well. :)

I’d like to see a separate blog but wouldn’t mind it being integrated here either. Whatever will be easiest or make you happiest is good for me :)
I’m looking forward to reading about your adventures as always. Take care! <3

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